Seven charts on the highlights from the government's mid year update of the budget.

Fewer government welfare recipients due to higher than expected employment growth provides a slightly stronger budget outlook for the Turnbull government as they head into 2018.
Lukas Coch/AAPDecember 18, 2017

The government hasn't abandoned its jobs and growth mantra in the budget update and remains optimistic despite lower growth and wages forecasts.

Australian Acting Special Minister of State Senator Mathias Cormann, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Australian Attorney-General George Brandis at a press conference at Parliament House to introduce the new foreign donations laws.
AAPDecember 6, 2017

Like millions of others, I received an SMS at the weekend from the “Yes” campaign for the marriage ballot. It said: The Marriage Equality Survey forms have arrived! Help make history and vote YES for a…

Mathias Cormann gave an assurance that there would be a bias towards freedom of speech.
Mick Tsikas/AAPSeptember 12, 2017

The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow and nowhere slower than in the Sydney headquarters of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). A recent report appears to show that ASIC…